The Orloff Couple and Malva

e thought that they would soon get another one. The cellar in which they lived was a great long, dusty room with a cobwebby ceiling. Close against the door stood, with its front towa

ound an entrance, and blending with the dust of th? court, pressed in on the senses of the Orloffs in formless and colourless waves. Opposite the stove stood, behind a brown curtain with a pattern of roses, a great wooden double bedstead;

lls. Flies hovered over everything, buzzing in a melancholy drone; and the pictures, which were decorat

work. Whilst they were drinking their tea he apportioned out the day's labour; he did the finer parts which required a master hand, whilst his wife's share lay in twisting the waxed threads, and in finishing off pieces of work which did not require so much skill. They also spoke during breakfast of what they should have for their dinner. In the winter, when the stomach required more, this was a fairly interesting subject, but in the summer when the stove, for motives of economy, was only lit on high days and holidays, and not always then, they lived mostly on cold meats, on kwass, varied with salt-fish and onions; sometimes they boiled, on so

would sing second to her husband. Both faces at such times would wear a thoughtful, sad expression, and Grischka's dark eyes would grow moist His wife, absorbed in the world of sound, would sit in a half-conscious state, swaying from side to side; sometimes she would appear completely lost in the music, suddenly pausing on a note, and then slowly falling once more in

the ache in my soul, that cursed ache! Ah! t

these improvisings, and

hen like a dog, wh

ly answered

do you understand about thing

l away, and then

that you want to begin to teach me no

as not to meet his eyes, which were full of love and of self-reproach for the cruel words he had just spoken. She heeded not his signals of reconciliation, and though awaiting impatiently his smile, trembled with fear lest he should once more lose his t

tural desire of every human heart, of, in a word-living. It is in fact a psychological fact that man and wife, though they may have attained a high degree of culture, without such an inner life, such an interest, must inevitably grow tired of, and burdensome to each other. If the Orloffs had had an object in life, if it had only been in the empty toil of hoarding halfpence in order to collect capital-life would certainly have appeared easier to them. But as it was, they were deprived even of this interest, which might have proved a bond between them. As each had the other a

ther should bear me ... so it's no use complaining about that! Then I learnt my trade.... Why was that?... Are there not enough cobblers in the world without me?... So then I became a cobbler.... And what next?... What good fortune is there for me in that?... I sit here in a hole and stitch boots.... And by

w best how men's lives should be arranged. Sometimes, when not too depressed, she would interject a remark full of common-sense-"You shouldn't drink vodka, then you wo

nly pleasure? You talk about others ... how many do you know pray, who have been fortunate enough to make themselves independent? Was I not before my marri

gination. And that before his marriage he was more cheerful, more entertaining, more good-natured-that also was true.... Now however he had really grown like a wild beast.... "Am I indeed then such a burden to h

!..." grumbled Grischka, pretending to push her away from him. But she

on his knee, and kiss her long and passionately; at the same time sighing deeply an

h other like wild beasts; why is that so?... It seems to be my fate.... E

e oppressive atmosphere of their cellar. Matrona only sighed and was silent Sometimes however at these happy moments, the memory of her undeserved sufferings and blows came across her and she would

o, when I beat you.... Now be quiet, will you? If one gives in the least bit to a woman, she will take

er the torrent of her tears, and pitiful compla

cares for me, though I often seem to forget it But it's like this, Motrja; sometimes it seems as if I could no longer bear the sight of you ... as if I had had enough of you for

t to express; but the contrite, loving to

she said. "Perhaps it would be better if we had a child ... then we should

bring one in

. always striking me on the body and on the loins....

the exact place where

ate I am not a brute! I don't do it for my pleasure, but only wh

ng feeling comes over you

f disposition. Lewtschenko's nature is just like a straight stick; mine is like a spring; the least pressure on it makes it start vibrating.... For instance, I go along the street, and see beautiful things on every hand-and nothing of it all belongs to me. That makes me feel injured. The 'Little Russian,' he does not need any of those things. But it makes me furious to think how that moustached fellow is so entirely without needs, whilst I ... ah! I don't even know what I want.... I should like to have everything, yes, everything! But I sit here in this hole and work from morni

th did you marry

e done so. I ought instead to have joined the ranks of the tramps, where I should have suffered

" cried Matrona, with dif

then?" asked Grischk

my bus

t her, a wild hatred

so; I'm not a

en up with some one e

let

you go?" Grischka

er; and the feeling of this anger gave her real pleasure, thrilled every fibre of her soul. Instead of quenching his jealousy with a few conciliatory words

corner of his eye, and sigh heavily. His conscience troubled him, and he felt a painful feeling of shame, as he real

that sort of character?... And it's a great deal your fault.... Instead of speakin

passionate caresses with which he would seal her forgiveness. For the sake of these caresses she was prepared to allow herself

be quiet, Motrja! Come, my treasure

, whilst he ground his teeth with the bi

dden by the thick wall of the neighbouring houses, and

all the pain that was oppressing his soul, "This hole that we live in is the cause of

gs," remarked Motrja through her

live in a garret we should still be living in a hole, and all would remain exa

inally remarked, "God grant that we may impr

that already. It doesn't look much like it, Motrja....

ever shorter and shorter, and Grischka would frequently begin the

work, I am off to the vodka-shop across

r approached, he grew more and more excited. He would speak to her over and over again of his intention to get drunk. He knew only too well how painful it was to her to hear such w

tune to the inhabitants of the court, was able to rep

he would return, dirty, and with bloodshot eyes, to his home. Matrona would receive him in silence, wearing a severe expression, but full of secret

d in a hoarse voice, and after swall

t bear himself. He would throw down his work, and uttering wild words of self-reproach would pace up and down the room, or woul

this delight disappeared entirely, and they simply made it up, because it was impossible to r

urself, then, altogether wit

e immaterial whether he destroyed himself or not "And you will end by running away from me?..." he

Matrona was just now doing her very best to win back his heart She visited the fortune-teller's and wise women, and brought back with her all sorts of charms and spells in order to gain this object When none of these had any eff

hree years ago, with his joyful laugh and his loving words, had given to her whole life such full delight and pleasure.... Thus lived, from one day's end to another, these two children of men, who

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